Well, it's come to about that time. A time when I spend reflecting this past 40 days. A time when I look at what I was doing 40 days ago and look at where I am now. I gotta say, a lot has changed. Mentally, physically, spiritually. The biggest thing that's happened these past 40 days, though, wasn't a blog post. It wasn't The Langdoc Team moving (although it was a close second). It wasn't Psych ending (although, that was pretty high on the list). It was listening to the Daily Audio Bible. It was listening past the daily scripture reading and review. It was hearing a caller respond to someone's prayer request with a (rough) quote "I believe that when Jesus uttered 'it is finished' He meant the suffering for sins."
Wait, what!? That's what He meant? I thought He meant that He was done. Like He was dead. I always associated it with Him dying since that was always what came right after that line. I knew He had dies on the cross for our sins, but the weight of that was something I never (still don't) fully understood until that moment I heard the fellow listener say that.
Here's a hint of what that means. Before Jesus, whenever someone would sin (as in touch something unclean, eat something unclean, etc.) the person would have to find a sacrificial animal and sacrifice it to God, the High Priests being the "witnesses" to the sacrifice would then deem you unclean or clean and it was just this big process. Or the "government" would take care of you how they saw fit. But since Jesus, that is unnecessary. Since Jesus, we have discovered that the sacrificing is not needed. Since Jesus we are taught that the main goal is to love. Wholly and entirely and truly.
Since then, any and all sins are washed away through Jesus' death. Meaning He pretty much was like "I'll take the bullet on this one," only it was for everyone. Of course that if a gross (more than gross) under exaggeration of it. Jesus suffered the ultimate sacrifice. Meaning He gave away God's greatest gift: life. A lot of people (myself including and maybe only me) think that Jesus just went through His life being stoic and stuff. The fact is, He was looking forward to all of that as much as we would. He prayed (Matthew 26:39), "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass Me by, not as I will, but as you will." He held on to every hope He had to just give Him a little more time. Just maybe not yet. Just maybe a couple more days.
But, as we all know, it didn't wait. Couldn't wait. Through these times where He could have gone back on what He preached. Could have taken it all back. Could have run away. Could have not offered the other cheek. Could have not walked with His (then) enemies two more miles. Some, now, would call that stupid. Others would say that is a teacher fulfilling what He has taught. Not only to fulfill some prophecy. Not only to "set a good example." But for all of us to be forgiven. Religious or not. Criminal or victim. Republican or Democrat. "Right" or "wrong." We are loved. We are eternally forgiven. How beautiful is that? How radical is that? To be forever and always forgiven.
Now? Now, well, we have free will. We have life. We have love. We have each other. Now we are given these amazing, beautiful gifts of life and love and free will. Now we make the best possible life we can. Through our choice. Through our love. Through each other. We help out. We love. We reach as a helping hand. We reach for a helping hand. We try to live the best lives we can. But most importantly, we do it in love and gratitude.
Thanks,
Mary Taylor
I couldn't decide which one to post.
Wait, what!? That's what He meant? I thought He meant that He was done. Like He was dead. I always associated it with Him dying since that was always what came right after that line. I knew He had dies on the cross for our sins, but the weight of that was something I never (still don't) fully understood until that moment I heard the fellow listener say that.
Here's a hint of what that means. Before Jesus, whenever someone would sin (as in touch something unclean, eat something unclean, etc.) the person would have to find a sacrificial animal and sacrifice it to God, the High Priests being the "witnesses" to the sacrifice would then deem you unclean or clean and it was just this big process. Or the "government" would take care of you how they saw fit. But since Jesus, that is unnecessary. Since Jesus, we have discovered that the sacrificing is not needed. Since Jesus we are taught that the main goal is to love. Wholly and entirely and truly.
Since then, any and all sins are washed away through Jesus' death. Meaning He pretty much was like "I'll take the bullet on this one," only it was for everyone. Of course that if a gross (more than gross) under exaggeration of it. Jesus suffered the ultimate sacrifice. Meaning He gave away God's greatest gift: life. A lot of people (myself including and maybe only me) think that Jesus just went through His life being stoic and stuff. The fact is, He was looking forward to all of that as much as we would. He prayed (Matthew 26:39), "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass Me by, not as I will, but as you will." He held on to every hope He had to just give Him a little more time. Just maybe not yet. Just maybe a couple more days.
But, as we all know, it didn't wait. Couldn't wait. Through these times where He could have gone back on what He preached. Could have taken it all back. Could have run away. Could have not offered the other cheek. Could have not walked with His (then) enemies two more miles. Some, now, would call that stupid. Others would say that is a teacher fulfilling what He has taught. Not only to fulfill some prophecy. Not only to "set a good example." But for all of us to be forgiven. Religious or not. Criminal or victim. Republican or Democrat. "Right" or "wrong." We are loved. We are eternally forgiven. How beautiful is that? How radical is that? To be forever and always forgiven.
Now? Now, well, we have free will. We have life. We have love. We have each other. Now we are given these amazing, beautiful gifts of life and love and free will. Now we make the best possible life we can. Through our choice. Through our love. Through each other. We help out. We love. We reach as a helping hand. We reach for a helping hand. We try to live the best lives we can. But most importantly, we do it in love and gratitude.
Thanks,
Mary Taylor
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